Explosive.



immmann aacauns rrunscnnm, or rnnn'r, l ng fiatcntedfiov; 19, I912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Benzene .Jeeonss FLtinsoHnnr, doctor of philosophy androsearch chemist, by birth a German subject, but having applied for naturalization as a British subject, residing at Fleet, Hampshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to 1213- plosives, of which the following is a Speei-.

' ibustible bodies, such as napthalene or fication.

This invention, relates to the use oi s, nitroderivative of anilin, viz., tetrafinin'oanilin, as an explosive or as an ingredient in the manufacture of explosives.

In comparison with other aromatic nitro compounds, hitherto employed in the manufacture of explosive compositions, suchas trinitro-toluol, this new compound possesses a considerably greater explosivepower, as shown by careful experiments. Moreover,

in spite of its high percentage of nitrogen and oxygen, tetra-nitro-anilin has a comparatively high resistance to heat and me chanical influences, and its manufacture is simple and cheap. It is therefore eminently suitable as an explosive or in the manufacture of explosives.

Besides tetra-nitro-anilin, those derivatives of the same, Which contain substituents in the amino group, for instance methylnitro-tetra-nitro-anilin,

l/ w hltl uo/Vvmz on N/ \m j v which melts at about 145 0., are also suitable for use as or m the manufacture of explosives.

Tetran1tro-an11m 1s a very powerful exlosive, and may be fired in a known'manner, for instance by an ordinary detonator; it may therefore be used for instance as an Application m s Febrpary ,;1911. Serial No. mm,

for shells, torpedoes and similar objects, or for the manufacture of gun-powder, as is the case, for-instance with gun-cotton and scan .other known nitro compounds.

, Tetra-nitro-ani'li-n and its mentioned above may be employed together with other nit-r0 compounds, or Withoxidizing bodies, such as (perchlorates, and com aluminium powder or other materials, which have been or may be used in combination with other nitro compounds, for instance by simply mixing or melting them together, or by causing then-r to unite by means of a suitable solvent or a colloid solution,-such as nitro-cellulose in acetone, with or without the aid of pressure. They may also be used in detonating or priming compositions in conjunction with priming substances such as fulminate of mercury or nitrids, as is the case, for instance, with trinitrotoluene and tetra-nitro-methyl-anilin.

The following are examples of useful compositions These proportions may be varied and a part or the Whole of the charcoal may be 'reor other combustible bodies. The tetranitro-anilin and the ila'phthalone may be melted together. "The ammonium-nitrate- 'may be replaced by a' suitable quantity of another oxygen earner.

Ewamp le II.

explosive charge for blasting purposes, also derivatives Et omple I. V

Tetra-nitroeanilin"in u 13parts. Charcoal 6' Ammonium nitrate 81 placed by a suitable quantity of naphthalene composition may be prepared from this mixture as follows A mixture consisting of tetra-nitro-anilin and dinitro-benzene,

as described above a- '7 parts. Charcoal 6 1 Ammonium-nitrate 87 Y Q 100' Eat-ample H I Fulminate of mercury composition (containing 10 to 20% of KGlO, and 9080 of fulmmate) about 25 parts. Tetra-nitro-ahilin, about 75 i f 100 IV. Fulminate of merohry composition (containing 10 to 20% KClO -and 90-80 of fulmmate) about 25pa-rts. Methyl-nitro tetra-nitro-an1l1n,

v v No:

' awaits NO/ NO: 7

Examples III and Wrente'iouemaaeig compositions in which the ingredientsare.

usually not mixed together, but placedone above the other.

Tetra-nitro-anilin is; ayellotv crystalline product or powder having a specific gravity of about 1.8 and melting at about 210? with decomposition, .It is easily soluble acetone, less soluble in acetic acid; benzene and chloroform and almost insoluble in cold water. It can be recrystallized, for instancefrom glacial acetic acid, or from nitl'b-benzene or xylene, andis characterized by the remarkable facility with which-its nitro group in the 3-position may be replaced by, other groups. Thus the compound can in acetonic solution, for instance, be quantitatively transformed into trijnitro-metaamino-phenol melting at 174to 175 C. by treatment with anaqueous solution of so dium-acetate at ordinary'temperature. The nitro group in the 3-position can also be replaced by numerous other radicals, for instance by amins; the amino gr0up"f'can equally be replaced, li'ough not so easily.

The chemical cons ltlltlOIl may be'indie cated by the formula:

lowsz+1 part of meta-nitro-anil-in and parts of sodium nitrate are dissolved in36 parts'of concentrated sulfuric acid, the mass is then heated to about C. to 90 C. and external cooling is applied, to prevent the temperature from rising, When the-reaction 2 100 C. for a few minutesfith'en allowed to cool, and. thetetra nitroanilin separated by -.'J'Z"|I filtration. r

stobdtha'tin the claims appended hereto the eizpression; an explosive containing is to"- V be mterpretedto mean-an explosive com- In'view of the foregoing it is to be under-' has subsided, 'the mass is "heated further to i prising at least one constituent in addition 7 to the tetra-nitrovanilin. i What I claim is '1. An explosive containing a ,"offanilin havingrfourynitro groups-in the substantially as described.

w positions 2, 3, and Sin the benzene. nucleus,

"anilin of the constitution I I NO:

NO/ No,

substantially as described.

3. A detonating charge containing-tetranitro-anilin in addition to a priming substance, substantially as described. 3

Intestimony'whereof I have hereunto set derivative 1' 2. An explosive; containing tetrainitroamy hand in presence of two subscribing wit- BERNHARD JACQUES FLllRSCHEIM.

Witnesses:

J. Wm, H. D. JAMIESON. 

